If at first you don't succeed, then try again. That has been a major recruiting factor for Tommy Brown during his five-year tenure as Lee University's head men's basketball coach.
"We're going to always try and recruit every Division I-type player in the Chattanooga area,'" said Brown after signing Charleston Southern transfer Patrick Shaughnessy on Friday morning. "We've been able to get four or five of them on the second go-round and we've had a lot of success with them on and off the playing court."
Brown admits that most of the better high school players in the region usually have Division I dreams.
"We see nothing wrong with that, and when we can get guys as sophomore transfers it shows our university made a good first impression the first time. Our doors will always be open to athletes who want to continue their careers and at the same time are seeking to get a degree."
Shaughnessy is exactly the type of student-athlete Brown was talking about. "Lee started recruiting me as early as the 10th grade," said the 6-foot-9 post player. The former Grace School standout was all-district, all-region and all-state player. He was the Region 3-A MVP during his senior year and carried a 3.0 GPA
Before signing with Charleston Southern, UNC-Greensboro, Morehead State, Tennessee Tech, Eastern Kentucky and others came knocking on the door of the 235-pounder. He played in 19 games as a freshman, but started looking for a college closer to home.
Junior colleges and several NAIA programs came calling aging, but Shaughnessy remembered what he saw at Lee. "The location was a big factor," he noted. "The school is growing and the campus is nice. I felt comfortable here and Lee has built a strong program."
Brown feels the former CSU player can step in and play immediately. "He plays so hard and is so aggressive for a big man," the coach added. "He's added about 15 extra pounds and that will really help. With his work ethic, he's got a chance to play at the pro level someday."
"I play hard because of my love for the game and a strong desire to excel," said Shaughnessy. "My goal for the next three years is to get bigger and stronger and improve my face-up game. I know I've got a whole lot more to learn about the game. I think I can help Lee with my motor (playing hard); with my rebounding and my ability to score in the post."
"As a student he fits our culture at Lee," added Brown. "We are always excited when we are able to sign a student/athlete like Patrick."